What a privilege to welcome another friend, Tonya Ortkiese to “Deeper Still” this week. You will be inspired by her writing. Thank you Tonya for sharing your story. ~Martha Wilson It began somewhere that first week of May when I made up my mind I was going to start a new habit...walking. It was as I was walking around my circular driveway that I noticed this tree in my pine island. It has been there for many years, but today I realized it had become a beautiful, tall and flourishing tree, extending a welcome invitation to sit in its shade. I remembered the outdoor bench we had purchased last year, but had failed to set it in place. Within a couple hours of asking my husband Steve where it wa

It is with great joy that I welcome my good friend Robin Dixon to the Deeper Still blog today. You will be greatly blessed as she opens her heart to us. As we peek into each other’s stories hope comes for our own story. Be encouraged! I was in my garden last Saturday morning and it opened up a most glorious time with God. I was so overwhelmed by His presence, that I knew I had to share it with you. My experience with Him is a beautiful picture of how He fulfills His promises to me. Andy has been gone for over two months now and I miss him with a longing that, at times, I don’t think I can bear. But God’s presence always comes and revives that longing in my soul. In my garden that morning was

I was in my garden last Saturday morning and it opened up a most glorious time with God. I was so overwhelmed by His presence, that I knew I had to share it with you. My experience with Him is a beautiful picture of how He fulfills His promises to me. Andy has been gone for over two months now and I miss him with a longing that, at times, I don’t think I can bear. But God’s presence always comes and revives that longing in my soul. In my garden that morning was a beautiful picture of how. After Andy died I went into my garden, which has always been a source of joy. But this time it was different. I stood in my garden that day with a heart so broken I literally thought I was going to die. As

When I was in the fourth grade, our school system hired a couple from Brazil to begin teaching Spanish. It started with simple colors, numbers, days of the week and months of the year. As I moved into high school the classes were more intense. I loved it and felt that I was very good at it. I didn’t continue my training or practice through the years, but for some reason when I went on my first mission trip to El Salvador, I was confident that I would be able to communicate with our new friends there. Boy, was I in for a surprise! They spoke rapid and full of passion and I could only understand a word here and there. Our transport bus trips became impromptu classrooms attempting to enable us

And He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22: 37 Hubby awakened me with an invitation to join him on the deck. “It’s kind of chilly, you might want to wrap up.” When I arrived the “Choose Joy” mug of coffee was waiting along with my favorite fuzzy blanket. The choir of birds was singing in perfect pitch and even the croaking frog joined in the chorus. Snuggled up with hubby and dog, I didn’t want the moment to end. What a glorious way to welcome Monday morning. We chatted for a bit and then Ed moved on with his day. The invitation was extended from the presence of another. My Lord wooed me to stay. I desired to

But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere, for we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. And who is qualified (fit and sufficient) for these things? 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 AMPC Once again we gathered in the circle to pray for one another and surrender to the Lord all t